Adjustable back lounge chair



Sept. 13, 1966 C. J. BARECKI ETAL ADJUSTABLE BACK LOUNGE CHAIR FiledNov. 12, 1964 2 Sheets-Shee l WITNESS CHESTER J. B

ROBERT 'l'. KN

INVENTORS:

ARECKI APP Mfg/WQ, ATTDRNEYS Sept. 13, 196 C, J. BARECKI ETAE 3,272,555

ADJUSTABLE BACK LOUNGE CHAIR Filed Nov. l2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 '6 yEnano FIG 9 lNvENTQRs: .l5 3o CHESTER J. BARECKI g1 'ou '003940 ROBERT TKNARR 23 United States Patent O 3,272,555 ADJUSTABLE BACK LOUNGE CHAIRChester J. Barecki and Robert T. Knapp, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignorsto American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of NewJersey Filed Nov. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 410,358 2 Claims. (Cl. 297-369)This invention relates to an adjustable back lounge chair, and moreparticularly to a lounge chair for patients and invalids in hospitals,nursing homes, doctors oices, etc.

An object of the invention is to provide a lounge chair which may bereadily adjusted to place the back of the chair at varying angleswhereby the patient may be seated in a normal position or in a positionfor a head support, or the back may be adjust-ed for lumbar support. Afurther object is to provide a lounge chair wherein the back may beadjusted to a plurality of positions, including an erect position and atleast four additional positions as desired. Yet another object is toprovide in a tubular chair frame me-ans actuated by a control leveralong one side of the seat for readily adjusting the angle of the chairback. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as thespecification proceeds.

The invention is shown in an illustrative embodiment by the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a lounge chair embodying ourinvention; FIG. 2, a side View in elevation, adjusted positions of theback `of the cha-ir being shown in dotted lines; FIG. 3, a rear view inelevation; FIG. 4, a broken top plan view, a portion of the cushionsbeing removed to show the chair structure; FIG. 5, an enlarged detailand part sectional view showing the pivot guide and locking mechanismutilized for controlling the position of the chair back, the back beingshown in normal position; FIG. 6, a view similar to FIG. 5 but showingthe adjusting mechanism being moved for the selection of a secondposition; FIG. 7, a view similar to FIG. 6` but showing the adjustmentcompleted; FIG. 8, -a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the lockingmechanism adjusted for supporting the back in a further and morerearwardlyinclined position; FIG. 9, a detail sectional view, thesection being taken as indicated at -line 9 9 of FIG. 5; and FIG. l0, adetail sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line V10-10 of FIG. 5.

In the illustration given, `10 designates a tubular seat frame supportedin a generally horizontal position by legs 11. The legs 1\1 on each sideof the frame are welded t-o the tubular frame A10 but are also extendedupwardly to support a cushion armrest 12 on each side of the chair.Secured to the U-shaped frame .10 is a bottom pan 13 for supporting acushion seat A14. Also welded to each side rail of the seat frame 10 areupwardly-extending pivot standards 15.

The back frame 116 is provided by a tubular U-shaped member, and themember .16 is connected at its lower ends by a crosspiece 17. A backsheet I18 is connected to the crossbar 17 and t-o the upper rail offrame 16 to provide a support for the back cushion 19.

The back Iframe 16 is pivotally mounted upon the standards 15 by pivotpins 20.

Means for adjusting the position of the back 16 will -now be described.As shown best in FIG. 3, one leg of the back frame -16 is extendeddownwardly and flattened at 21 and lying adjacent the tubular seat rail10a. The tubular member 10a is provided on its inner side with a yslot212 adapted t-o receive a connector pin 23 which extends into theiiattened portion y21 of the back \16.

As shown best in FIGS. 5-10, the pin 23 extending through the elongatedslot 22 engages a guide head 24 which forms part of `a pivot guidewithin the tubular ice member 10a. Extending forwardly of the head 24 isa stem 25 which is secured at its forward end to an elongated ratchetbar 26 having downwardly-extending spaced teeth 27. A spring 28 engagesat its rear the head 24, and at its forward end is confined byinwardly-extending screws 29.

A lever 30 extends upwardly along the side of the cushion 14 and issecured to an arm 31 which extends forwardly and which carries lockingteeth 32. The tubular member 10a is cut away at 33 to permit the teeth32 to extend upwardly and engage the teeth 27 of the ratchet 26. The arm31 is connected to a U-.shaped member having upwardly-extending wings 34enclosing the sides of the tube 10a, and a pivot pin `35 supports thearm upon the tube 10a. A rearwardly-extending portion of lthe .arm 3.1is provided with a pin 36 receiving a spring 37, and the upper end ofthe spring is anchored within tube 10a by a pin 38.

T-o prevent rotation of the ratchet member 26, we provide a stud orscrew 39 which engages ya longitudinal slot 40 in the member 26.

Operation In the operation of the structure, the patient may be seatedin the lounge chair in the normal position illustrated in solid lines inFIGS. 1 and 2, but by manipulating the pivot control mechanism, the backmay be moved to the various positions shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2.To eifect the movement from normal position to a rearwardly-inclinedback pos-ition, the patient or other user may raise the lever 30 so asto depress the bar 31, as shown in FIG. 6, andthe patient may then movethe back against the force of spring 28 to a desired inclined positionand then, upon releasing the lever 30, spring 37 urges the teeth 32upwardly into engagement with the teeth 27 of ratchet 26. Adjustment toat least five positions is provided with the ratchet means shown, but itwill be understood that additional teeth may be provided for furtheradjustments if desired. 'The cylindrical head member 24 and thecylindrical ratchet member 26 provide stabilized supports for the pivotcontrol whereby movement of the back is accomplished smoothly andevenly, and the patient or occupant is able to make the adjustments witha minimum of effort.

While in the foregoing `specication we have shown a specific embodimentin considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating our invention, itwill be understood that such deta-il or details may be varied widely bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of ourinvention.

We claim:

1. In a chair, a horizontal tubular seat frame, a cushion carried bysaid frame, legs supporting said frame and extending thereabove,armrests carried by said legs above said cushion, pivot standardsmounted on said seat Iframe .and extending upwardly therefrom, a backframe pivotally mounted on said standards, a cushion carried by saidback frame, one side of said back frame being extended downwardlyadjacent a tubular side member of said seat frame, said tubular memberbeing provided on its inner side with a longitudinal slot, `a pivotguide slidably -mounted in said tubular member and provided at its rearend with a head and at its forward end with a cylindrical ratchet havingits lower surface cut away to form downwardly-extending teeth, a pinextending through said slot and connecting said pivot guide head andsaid extended portion of ,said back frame, a spring within said tubularmember engaging said head, pins extending through said tubular memberand restricting forward movement of said spring, a pin extending through`said tubular member and engaging a longitudinal slot within saidratchet member, a lever pivotally mounted on said tubular member andhaving a rearwardly-extending arm equipped with upwardly-extending toothmeans, said tubular member being cut awayto allow said tooth means -toengage selectively said ratchet teeth for latching said ratchet in aplurality `of longitudinal positions, and spring means normally urgingsaid arm upwardly.

2. In a chair, a horizontal tubular seat frame, a seat carried by saidframe, ylegs supporting said frame and extending thereabove, pivotstandards mounted on said seat frame and extending upwardly therefrom, achair bac-k pivotally mounted on said standards, one side of said chairback being extended downwardly adjacent a tubular side member of saidseat frame, said tubular member being provided on its inner side with alongitudinal slot, a pivot guide slidably mounted in said tubular memberand provided at its rear end with a head and at its forward end with acylindrical ratchet having its lower surface cut away to formdownwardly-extending teeth, a pin extending through said slot andconnecting said pivot guide head and said extended portion of said chairback, a spring within said tubular member engaging said head, pinsextending through said tubular member and restricting forward movementof said spring, a pin extending through sa-id tubular member andengaging a longitudinal slot in the upper portion -of said ratchetmember, a lever pivotally mounted on said tubular member and providedwith a rearwardly-extending arm equipped with upwardly-extending t-oothmeans, said tubular member being cut away to -allow said tooth means toengage selectively said ratchet teeth for latching said ratchet in aplurality of longitudinal positions, and spring means normally urgingsaid arm upwardly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,283,485 5/1942Beck 297-369 X 2,645,0.75 7/195'3 Wong 297-365 X 2,962,087 1'1/ 1960Barecki et al. 297-367 JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Examiner.

R. B. FARLEY, G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiners.

1. IN A CHAIR, A HORIZONTAL TUBULAR SEAT FRAME, A CUSHION CARRIED BYSAID FRAME, LEGS SUPPORTING SAID FRAME AND EXTENDING THEREABOVE,ARMRESTS CARRIED BY SAID LEGS FRAME SAID CUSHION, PIVOT STANDARDSMOUNTED ON SAID SEAT FRAME AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, A BACKFRAME PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID STANDARDS, A CUSHION CARRIED BY SAIDBACK FRAME, ONE SIDE OF SAID BACK FRAME BEING EXTENDED DOWNWARDLYADJACENT A TUBULAR SIDE MEMBER OF SAID SEAT FRAME, SAID TUBULAR MEMBERBEING PROVIDED ON ITS INNER SIDE WITH A LONGITUDINAL SLOT, A PIVOT GUIDESLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND PROVIDED AT ITS REAR ENDWITH A HEAD AND AT ITS FORWARD END WITH A CYLINDRICAL RATCHET HAVING ITSLOWER SURFACE CUT AWAY TO FORM DOWNWARDLY-EXTENDING TEETH, A PINEXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT AND CONNECTING SAID PIVOT GUIDE HEAD ANDSAID EXTENDED PORTON OF SAID BACK FRAME, A SPRING WITHIN SAID TUBULARMEMBER ENGAGING SAID HEAD, PINS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID TUBULAR MEMBERAND RESTRICTING FORWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID SPRING, A PIN EXTENDNG THROUGHSAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND ENGAGING A LONGITUDINAL SLOT WITHIN SAID RATCHETMEMBER, A LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND HAVING AREARWARDLY-EXTENDING ARM EQUIPPED WITH UPWARDLY-EXTENDING TOOTH MEANS,SAID TUBULAR MEMBER BEING CUT AWAY TO ALLOW SAID TOOTH MEANS TO ENGAGESELECTIVELY SAID RATCHET TEETH FOR LATCHING SAID RATCHET IN A PLURALITYOF LONGITUDINAL POSITIONS, AND SPRING MEANS NORMALLY URGING SAID ARMUPWARDLY.